Rays Clinch AL East and AL Home Field as 6 MLB Teams Reach 2026 Playoffs
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 23
Rays Clinch AL East and AL Home Field as 6 MLB Teams Reach 2026 Playoffs
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 23
Summary
Tampa Bay locked up the AL East on Sept. 22 and secured home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs, the biggest new shift in the 2026 postseason race.
Six teams have now clinched playoff berths: the Rays, Yankees and Red Sox in the AL, and the Brewers, Dodgers and Braves in the NL.
Several spots could be decided next, with the Cubs 1 game from a berth and the Red Sox, White Sox, Guardians, Phillies and Padres each 2 away.
If the season ended Tuesday, Cleveland and Houston would join Tampa Bay as AL division winners, while Milwaukee, Los Angeles and Atlanta would top the NL field.